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“Classy, competitive and crafty” were the words Pat Feury, a long time Twilight League player and coach, used to describe Bob Curry, one of Western Maine’s top mounds-men of the ‘60s and ‘70s. Curry attracted attention while pitching for Gene Davis (HoF ’91) at South Portland, 1964-66. The slender and stylish southpaw was voted All- Telegram League in 1966 and was the recipient of the Portland Press Herald’s award for the League's outstanding pitcher. During the summers, Bob toed the mound for the Stewart P. Morrill Post American Legion nine. The ’66 team won the zone championship and played in the state tourney at Togus. From 1967-70 the Curry name was prominent In stories of Jack Butterfield’s (HoF ‘80) Black Bears at the University of Maine in Orono. In ’68 and ’70 Bob was selected to State Series All-Star teams. He was co-captain of the 1970 UMO team that finished with a stellar 14-3 record and a Yankee Conference co-championship. But it was in the fast Portland Twilight League that Curry gained great acclaim. Hurling for the always-competitive Ametek (later, South Portland Merchants) teams assembled by Bernal Allen (HoF ‘79) and Bob Philbrick (HoF’88) Bob won nearly 100 games in 11 seasons. Always very popular as well as skillful, he was selected the twilight League's outstanding pitcher award in 196/7-68-69- 70-71-73!!! From 1973 to ’79 Bob served as assistant varsity BB Coach under the wily HoFer, Phil Martin (‘89), at Scarborough. Martin, a pitcher himself, recalls how often times a usually noisy team bus would become very silent, and it would become obvious that Scarborough Redskins were engrossed in listening to their mentors exchange “war-stories” . Both Feury and Martin recalled how “cute” and frustrating Curry could be. “If you swung and missed” Feury said, you would return to the dugout cursing how you could ever miss a pitch like that”, and Martin said countless batters would take a called third strike and mutter “was !t on the black”. “Curry was a master at hitting the corners and changing speeds -and he was always in control.” Bob and his wife, Peggy, reside in South Portland. “Crafty is the word that stands out. He analyzed hitters and pitched to their weaknesses.”

Mike D’Andrea received his early education and athletic prowess growing up on Munjoy Hul, an area of Portland where many prominent citizens developed their bold and natural temperament, by gazing out over Casco Bay, the doorway to Portland, Maine. Many stories and poems have been written about the character of this Port City and the obstacles that he was to overcome. Henry Wadsworth Longfellow wrote these two lines in each stanza of My Lost Youth: “A boy’s will is the wind’s will and the thoughts of yore are long, long thoughts.” Mike attended Jack elementary School, Lyman Moore Middle School then graduating from Portland High School, in 1988. In the fall of 1988 he matriculated to the University of Maine where he graduated in 1992. His athletic skills, ability and determination began to shine as a participant on the 13-15 Portland Babe Ruth All-Star Teams. John Eisenhart, Westbrook High School’s Varsity Baseball, and former Babe Ruth teammate recalls, “What a fearless competitor he was during the 1985 State Tournament, it didn’t make any difference whether he was pitching, hitting or playing defense he executed with great self confidence, a trait that rubbed off on to his teammates. We had a lot of outstanding players on that team, but Mike was a l-man wrecking crew. For his leadership he was awarded the Tournament’s MVP Plaque. I see his fearless competitiveness in his Deering teams that he had as a player.” this versatile athlete continued his exploits at Portland High School beginning in 1985 where he became a member of basketball and baseball teams. Mike considered himself fortunate to have had such outstanding coaches during his playing days in Tony Dibiase, Fred James and John Winkin just to name a few. When the spring of 1986 came around Mike made his appearance known with his bat and strong right arm. Coach Fred James didn’t wait long to get him in the batting lineup and on the mound. “Mike was a fierce competitor with a real Bulldog attitude. ‘the tougher the opponent, the more he would beg for the ball to pitch. For his three years as a varsity player he batted 3rd in the order. He always had a positive attitude and loved the game.” his Portland High School Statistics: 1986 - 88: Bat. Ave - .347; 30 RBIs 1986 - 88: All-Telegram and All-State 1986 & 87: State Championships 1986 & 83: Edson Hadlock Pitching Award (15-1 rec.); MVP Pitching Award ERA: 1.96; 191 strikeouts in 119 innings; 68 walks; 85 runs During the summer months Mike played for Andrew Legion Post and was a member of two state championship teams - 1986 and 1987. Mike went on to play for the renowned UMO baseball Coach John Winkin. 1989: No. | starter his freshman year and held that position for the next four years 1989-91: All NAC Awards 1991-92: Invited to tryout for Olympic baseball team 1992: Signed with Atlanta Braves Organization Pulaski Braves - Voted Lop League Prospect. Led league in strike outs Macon Braves Durham Bulls MVP tor Durham Greenville Braves - Selected to Southern All-Stars Webster defines a dynasty, as a powerful group that maintains its position for a considerable time. Deering High School Rams have won five state crowns in the past seven years, a remarkable feat when you consider that Coach Mike D’Andrea has been their coach the last eight years. 1997 - Deering High School hired Mike and JV Baseball coach 1998 - 13W-5L-SM AA Coach of the Year 1999 - 22-2 ‘telegram League and *Maine State Championships 2000 - 22-2 ‘telegram League and *State Championships 2001 - 20-4 *State Championship POO? - 18-4 2003 - 22-2 ‘telegram League and *State Championships 2004 - 24-0 (First undefeated telegram team since Cheverus 1961) League and *State Championships New England High School Coach of the Year Maine Coach of the Year As Nova Seafood Legion coach, Mike won state titles in 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003 and 2004. Regional Championships in 1999 and 2004, winning the National Crown in 2004, as well as being named Zone | Coach of the Year. Carol Ridlon, a mother that had two sons that played for Coach D’Andrea, said, “Mike valued and showed respect to all his players, was always concern of their academic status in school and encouraged his players to go to college.” Churchill once said, “Sharpness 1n fundamentals is the winning edge in sports.” Mike D’Andrea has surely proven that. https://www.pressherald.com/2016/05/20/scarborough-baseball-coach-flourishing-in-new-home/

Harry Dalton an Eastern Maine multi-sport legend of statewide, regional and national scope -- primarily as an official -- has earned honors in all strata of amateur baseball in a 46-year term of service. The personable, efficient Brewer product built upon experience as an all round athlete to operate with keen understanding from all angles of the competition involved -- if an umpire ever won a popularity contest, Harry would have won it hands down. Daltons long Little League service was marked by various roles he performed with dispatch. he was league organizer and player agent for Bangor and Brewer circuits. He was District 3 Administrator (Penobscot, Piscataquis, Aroostook and Washington counties). He umpired all the way to the top -- local, state, New England, Eastern Regional and the World Series. He was the first selected form New England and the only Pine Tree Stater to work the LL World Series. He also organized girls softball, the Brewer Lassie League (ages 10-15), 1964-/0. in semi-pro baseball circles, Dalton is a past president and director of the Eastern Maine League and coached the Brewer A.A. team. Also active in American Legion baseball, he coached the Bangor Post 98 and the Brewer Post 12 teams. Dalton has been equally active in the basketball, football and boxing Officiating ranks, likewise in 4.5 decades. in fact, he’s still a licensed boxing judge and referee in Maine and is a member of the Maine Athletic Commission (supervises boxing among other sports). Three times, he officiated three different sports in a month. A member of the United Commercial Travelers (1951), Harry has also found time to lend his talents to numerous Civic and organization affairs. These include: Brewer School Committee, 10 years; Brewer City Council, four years; Brewer Kiwanis Club, past president and 23 years as Secretary/Treasurer. Among the many Dalton awards: Bangor Daily News Hall of Fame, 1962: Ellsworth W. (Bill) Millett Award as Maine's Little League top umpire, 1964: naming of the Harry J. Dalton Little League Field in Brewer, 1961; Brewer Kiwanis Distinguished Service Award, 1964.

“I have always regarded the game as being bigger than any who played.  It needs to be respected and honored.  The way for me to do that was to work at it and give it my best.  My teammates, my players, the game deserved no less.” - Dennis Damon “Baseball is not a religion, but it was our church. And we attended faithfully.” - John Doyle Whether you talk about Dennis Damon and baseball, or Dennis Damon and life, you always mention dedication, work, love for the game, recognizing what needs to be done and doing it. He came by these qualities, especially the work ethic, naturally. Damon’s parents, Dorothy and Llewellyn, were born at the beginning of the last century to farming and fishing families in Penobscot and Deer Isle respectively. They met and married in 1923 in Seal Harbor where they settled and started their family. The normal challenges of this undertaking were soon made more complicated by the onset of the Great Depression. Lew, a fisherman by birth and preference, and Dot, a renowned cook for summer families and homemaker, had to make do as they raised their growing family. Lew was forced to come ashore and work for Mr. Rockefeller building the carriage roads on Mt. Desert Island oftimes using only a pick and a shovel. He could also dig clams. He would walk on the ice from Seal Harbor to Little Cranberry Island dragging a flat bottomed punt behind him, “because there was an open spot a couple of hundred yards wide out in the middle.” He undertook this extraordinary journey not for fun, rather, in search of unfrozen flats where he could dig clams. He had quit school after 8th grade on Deer Isle to go clamming with his father because the price of clams had risen to 25 cents a bushel! Lew knew how to work, and he was good at it. He dug clams to sell and clams for Dot to make a chowder with so the family could enjoy a break from potatoes, rabbit and porridge. Twenty-five years after their first child was born, Dennis, their last, came along. The family had moved to the village of Northeast Harbor, four miles west of Seal Harbor, by then. That is where Dennis grew up. It was toward the end of the year in 1948 when his mother brought him home from the hospital in Bar Harbor. As the story goes, Dot was a large woman. She had not planned on having more children. Somewhat embarrassed she did not let on that she was with child and her pregnancy wasn’t noticed. Apparently she told her friends she was going to the hospital because of a tumor. Dennis likes to say, “The tumor was so cute, she decided to bring it home and name it Dennis!” By this time Damon’s two oldest brothers, Robert and Clifton, had returned from World War II, his older sister, Lorraine, had died, his other brother, Sheldon (Snick to most), had married leaving only himself and his remaining sister, Natalie, at home. He remembers 1957 as the first time he was introduced to baseball. A new teacher had moved into town who was also the coach at the high school. He soon started a summer recreation program for the children of the Town of Mt. Desert. It was this teacher/coach, Bernard “Bunny” Parady, who formed two baseball teams as part of the recreation program and Dennis was put on the “Braves” team. “I didn’t know much about the game and there was little ‘coaching’. The first time I hit the ball I ran to third-base because I batted left and that’s the way I was headed. Looking back on it, I think the baseball teams were formed to keep another twenty or so kids occupied during the recreation program.” From those feeble beginnings, Dennis continued his interest in baseball and later basketball. He developed his skills and when he entered Mt. Desert High School as a freshman he was selected to both varsity teams. His high school did not have a football program. Nonetheless, he later went on to play four years of football at the University of Maine lettering in his last two. He says the first football game he ever saw in person was at Maine and he played in it! Following high school graduation, Dennis played on the Lamoine town baseball team. It was the last year of that storied team. Two memories stand out with him about that experience. “We were playing some team from Massachusetts. In the second inning I hit a towering home run to right … actually, had it been a foot shorter it would have bounced on top of the fence … and we took the lead. Soon after that two sheriff’s cruisers drove into the parking lot at Tracy Field. As the game continued we noticed the deputies talking with the coach and other players from the visiting team. As I was about to lead off fourth inning, certain I could hit another dinger, the home plate umpire, who by that time had been called to the dugout discussion, came out onto the field waving his hands over his head yelling, ‘game over’! Apparently the visiting team had trashed a couple of motel rooms in Ellsworth the night before and they were now being brought to task.” The second memory of that Lamoine baseball summer was the end-of-season tournament. As Dennis recalls, “I was shagging in the outfield during pre-game batting when I notice this white Corvette convertible drive in. The guy in it walked into our dugout and was talking with a lot of the guys. It seemed like they knew him. I could see them pointing out toward me. Pretty soon the Corvette guy comes strolling out to me wearing baseball pants, a sport shirt and loafers. He tells me his name, says he played for Lamoine before I came along and that he’s taking my place in the line-up. As he’s walking back to the dugout he turns and says, ‘Oh, I can’t seem to find my glove, mind if I borrow yours for the game?’” He went O-fer with three strike-outs, made two errors and Lamoine lost. At the Univ. of Maine Dennis played on the freshman baseball team. He did not make the cut for the varsity team the following year. He claims it was the only mistake Jack Butterfield ever made! During his undergraduate years at Maine he formed a town team based in Northeast Harbor. He named it the “Acadians” a name that has perpetuated since for other baseball teams in the area. That town team consisted of players in college, some high schoolers and some men pushing the end of their playing careers. The common denominator was they loved baseball and they wanted to play.   Their opponents in the Northeast League were Bangor, Orono-Old Town, Mattawamkeag, Dixmont and occasionally a team from the Quoddy League downeast. Following graduation from college, Dennis returned to the new regional high school on the Island to teach and coach football, basketball and baseball. During the baseball try-outs 45 young men tried for 20 openings. Coach Damon realized 25 people were going to be disappointed. He also realized they would not play organized baseball again before they tried out next year. There was a well organized Little League baseball program on the Island but that ended once the player reached age 12. This would not do. To fill the void, Damon, with the help of some other adults, formed first one, then two and finally three Pony League teams for boys and girls ages 13 to 15. There were three or four other teams in the area to play in addition to the three MDI teams; Clippers, Dolphins and Islanders. At the height of that program there were 63 players involved in Pony League baseball on MDI. It was also at this time that Damon recognized a need for a JV baseball program at MDIHS. His friend and school colleague, Earl Moser, who coached the Clippers, agreed to coach the JV team. Another new team was born. Recognizing some of his high school players had ability sufficient to play beyond high school and that there was no opportunity to play in the summer if you were older than 15, Damon saw American Legion baseball as the best opportunity. The closest team was Bangor. Some of his players wanted to try-out for that team but they could not because the rules of American Legion baseball limited the total school enrollments to 3,600 students. That rule prohibited MDIHS from joining the Bangor team. What to do? There was only one answer as Damon saw it. Start an American Legion team. In 1979 with the tiny little Lurvey-Wright Post 103 in Northeast Harbor agreeing to be the sponsor, Dennis and Ellsworth HS baseball coach Jack Scott (85) collaborated to form the ‘MDI Acadians’ American Legion baseball team. During the time Dennis coached them, the Acadians made it to the state tournament 4 out of 7 years. In 1987 Damon had left teaching and started his own business. With the responsibilities of a new business start-up to shoulder he decided to step away from coaching. He was not willing to give baseball less than his full effort. It was not fair to the players. It was not fair to the game. He did continue to be actively involved with the Department of Maine – American Legion Baseball program however. He became Zone 1 Commissioner and later Field Director. He continues to hold that position today. Every year since 1979 he has been involved with American Legion Baseball. Dennis Damon continues to work hard for baseball in Maine. He doesn’t shy away from hard work, loves the game, does what needs to be done … and he tells a good story!

“My role was the summer recreation director in Ralph’s hometown. It was time for Pittsfield’s annual little league all-star tournament. Ralph’s skills have earned him opportunities on much larger stages; he instead chose to donate his time to the tournament. He umpired a full slate of games on Saturday, hung around and directed trivia and stores of baseball into the evening, only to return for a full slate of games on Sunday. During the weekend, I watch parents, coaches, and players of winning and losing teams go out of their way to thank Ralph. No matter the level of baseball knowledge, they knew Ralph just gave the game something special.” -Ollie A. Faulkner Damren was once behind the plate in Corinth, where an older Central High fan had set up a folding chair directly behind the chicken wire backstop: “Every time I called a strike against any Central batter he would go, ‘hokey Pete, hokey Pete, he needed a tennis racket,’ Damren said. When Central was in the field, if I didn’t call it a strike, he’d go ‘hokey Pete, right down Broadway.’ At one point, a warmup pitch rolled toward the backstop, and Damren retrieved it. As he righted himself, his eyes met those of the man. I smiled and said, ‘let me know if I miss any,’ Damren said. He smiled and said, ‘miss any, I ain’t sure if you got any right yet.’ The man didn’t say a word the rest of the game. As the umpires walked toward their car, the old man confronted them. He says, ‘you wasn’t so bad.’ I smiled and waved back at him, Damren said. -Ralph Damren Ralph Damren is celebrating fifty years as a baseball umpire, and I do mean celebrating. Really, anyone who has come in contact with him would tell you he celebrates just about everything: sunny days, cold days when he remembers his gloves and Bruce Anderson doesn’t, stumping you with his”how many pitches?” trivia question, funny plays on the field and ones that were not so funny when they happened but which grew more humorous with the passage of time, his time on the field with young people, great displays of sportsmanship, and Oh Yes, balls and strikes and close calls on the bases. Ralph began life as the son of George and Dorothy Damren who are deceased. He shared that home with three siblings: a brother, George, who is also deceased and two sisters, Linda (Bickford) and Debbie (Brooks). On June 8, 1985, he was married to his wife Roberta. He and Roberta have no children. An important fact here is that Roberta can get this man away from ballfields long enough to take an inseason Alaskan cruise. It is pretty clear who the crew chief is in that house. Ralph has worked for Equitable, now AXA Equitable since 1971. From 1971 to 1976 he was an agent. Then from 1976 to 1993 he was a District Manager, and since 1993 he has held his current position as an agent. Ralph’s association with baseball began during his highschool years at MCI. It was there where he came under the powerful influence of another Maine Baseball Hall of Famer, Mr. Al Card who was his baseball coach and a lot more. Ralph cites Mr. Card as the person who made the greatest impression on him during his time in baseball. It is pretty clear that Ralph learned from one of the best. By his own admission, Ralph was not on the radar of MLB scouts as a player. He described the MCI team he played on as a Powerhouse” in an article by Bangor Daily News writer Pete Warner in 2014 entitled “The Man behind the mask: Pittsfield native still making the right calls in 48th season as baseball umpire.” Ralph the hitter? Not so much. In the same article, he summarizes his career as one hit in six at bats, “ a ringing single against Hinkley-Goodwill.” Coach Card was a prophet when he steered this not so feared slugger into umpiring in 1966. Ralph has remained strongly connected to MCI throughout the years. He was a trustee from 1990 to 1996, Alumni Association President from1992 to 2002, Finance Committee Chair from 1998 to 2002. In 2007 Ralph was elected into the MCI Hall of Fame, and he has served on the Hall of Fame Selection Committee since 2010. If Al Card left a powerful and lasting impression on Ralph, there is no doubt Ralph has returned the favor to countless fans, players and coaches during his tenure. The is not much doubt that folks know he is on the field. In the previously cited Bangor Daily News article Pete Warner says, “There is no mistaking when he’s behind the plate. He barks out an unmistakeable ‘straaiiike’ call, and is the only umpire in the area who uses the traditional ‘balloon’ protector’. I was fortunate enough to attend a game this spring when Houlton fans had their first experience with Ralph. They heartily agreed with me that he does not get cheated when calling strikes. Of course, there is a story about the balloon protector. With Ralph there is always a story. Suffice to say he once tried the model worn under the uniform blouse, but that resulted in what could charitably be called a “wardrobe malfunction”. He tells it better. It is doubtful one could find an umpire held in higher regard by coaches than Ralph, among them is fellow inductee David Gonyar. Dave Eckelund said, “ I think if you talked to 10 coaches, I don’t know if you’d get any that would say anything bad about him. The same is true for his peers. John Curry, President of the EMBUA board and a veteran arbiter himself, “ He’s an incredible guy. He’s the glue that holds us all together. More than one player will tell you of a time when he benefited from Ralph’s even handed application of the rule book. And at least once the players and coaches have returned the favor. What would impress a man who from 1966 to 1967 was in the Kennebec Somerset Umpire’s Association, from 1968 to 1970 was an approved umpire in Connecticut, has been on the EMBUA since 1971 and its interpreter since 1979? Well, it was two coaches and a very unfortunate situation. Let him tell it to you via Pete Warner. “ In the late 1970’s Ellsworth High was playing at Orono. With the Eagles leading 21, an elderly man in the crowd experienced a medical emergency. Orono coach Dave Ekelund and Ellsworth coach Jack Scott tried to assist the man, who was taken to the hospital but later died. He was the grandfather of Red Riots pitcher David Paul, who was in tears on the bench. [Scott] says, ‘ I don’t expect him to pitch anymore today We’re not going to take advantage of it. We’re going to go home and give them a forfeit.”. Ralph calls it “ probably the most sportsmanlike act I’ve ever seen.” Before we close, we should also note that Ralph is also a long tenured and widely respected football official as well. He has been officiating in Connecticut and Maine since 1969. He has received awards from the NFL Foundation and the College Football hall of Fame. He serves on the NFHS Football Rules committee. He has organized and monitored two experimental rules which were subsequently adopted by the NFHS. In 2012 he was awarded the Larry Labrie award by the MPA recognizing his outstanding contributions to the MPA Interscholastic Division. Fifty years is quite a long time to do anything, so why officiate that long especially in spite of a hip replacement? All those free little league games in Pittsfield, those cold, snowy days in April, those days when the coach gets up on the wrong side of the bed, those days when you differentiate if the player said those words to himself or to you? Let Ralph tell you.’You do it, at least from my perspective, because it makes you feel young again. You’re working around kids; you’re working a game you love, and it’s good exercise. “ Looking at it that way, the past fifty years on selected baseball and football fields have been pretty good for everyone involved.

From Cumberland to Rhode Island’s shore and back, Bob Darling blasted a baseball trail that brought the rugged Greely Institute product high honors at both ends and steady service in between. The epitome of the good-hitting pitcher, Darling patrolled third base - sometimes second base - when not on the mound. At either the hot corner or in the keystone sector, his basketball nurtured agility and accurate gun of an arm rendered firm support to his fellow pitcher. Highlights of Darling’s four-year diamond career at Greely were his selection to the All-Triple-C team his junior year of 1951 and his .387 batting average his senior season of 1952. Bob also bolstered the Falmouth Memorial Post American Le910n team and later Portland’s Caldwell Post combine. What was to prove the apex of the Darling baseball saga - though many good things were still to follow back home - was a brilliant display of pitching and complementary stickwork after enlisting in the Navy, February, 1953. Bob pitched and held down third base for the Naval Station Islanders in the Rhode Island Sunset League. After posting a 5-2 record in 1953, that included a one-hitter, Greely’s pride pitched a perfect 8-0 card the following year with a parsimonious 1.42 earned-run average to pace the Islanders to the league championship. Needless to say, Darling was an automatic all-star choice as he topped ail hurtles. His Navy enlistment completed, Darling returned to Maine and enrolled in Portland Junior College. Bob captained both the basketball and baseball teams in his two year tenure at P.J.C. Dividing his defensive commitment between second base and the pitcher’s mound, Darling was regarded as a “very savvy pitcher’ by the man who should Know, his catcher, Don Lary. Samples of Darling’s multiple contributions to P.J.C.’s success: Double, triple and home run backing his winning relief pitching stint in a {2-7 victory over the Bates College Junior Varsity; Two-run ninth-inning homer, completing the cycle after a single, double, and triple, in a 10-9 win over Maine Vocational technical institute. Rounding out his thorough diamond education, Bob pastimed in the Portland twilight League. His affiliations included the Woodfords Merchants and the classy Capitol theater Red Sox.

Alvin “Al” Davis is a native of Wilton, attended Wilton Academy and served in the military during World War II. Al was a throw-back from the Old Town Team ball players. His knuckleball was the talk of every team he played against. When he was on the mound a bat was of little use to the hitter. He pitched for the Livermore Tri-Towners when the Timber League was at its best, and also played with the old Wilton Loggers, the Dixfield Dixies, Turner Townies and the Farmington Flyers. His career spanned some 19 years - 1940-1959 .Al was an All-Star pitcher for most of his career and had the distinction of pitching in the National Amateur Tournament in Battle Creek, Michigan. He won well over 200 games during his career and was no easy out at the plate. He was a hitter as well as an outstanding pitcher. While in the military Al pitched for Kelly Field and Lubbock Air Force Base. One of the highlights while he was playing service ball was facing the great “Enos Slaughter”. Slaughter is a National Hall of Famer who had a great career with the St. Louis Cardinals. Al had the distinction of striking him out on more than one occasion during a service game. Al retired from International Paper Co. after 40 years. He turned to golf after his baseball days and was one of the better golfers at Wilson Lake Country Club. He had a hip replacement a few months ago and is recuperating nicely. He even went to Florida this winter to play golf and at 82 years of age, he is still a handful on the links. Al lived most of his life in Livermore Falls where he met and married his wife Betty, and raised their family. His loving wife of 57 years passed away September 1, 1999. He loved the game of baseball and always was willing to shake your hand if you were lucky enough to beat him when he had his “stuff”.

South Portland Historical Society https://sphistory.pastperfectonline.com/byperson?keyword=Davis%2C+Blaine+E. Name Davis, Blaine E. Deceased 4 Jul 1981 Portland, Maine Occupation Sports writer/editor, Maine Sunday Telegram, Portland Evening Express, Guy Gannett Publishing Co. Organized and coached the Portland Sagamores semi-professional football team in the 1930s. Notes Signed with baseball's Pacific Coast League in 1928 Titles & honors Tournament Director, Maine Golf Association, 1946-1980. Sportswriter of the Year award - 1961, 1964, 1967. Maine Baseball Hall of Fame, inducted in 1970. Maine Sports Hall of Fame, inducted in 1979. Maine Sports Hall of Fame https://www.mshof.com/bios/biodetail/?num=330 UPI He held positions on nearly every Maine sporting association, and was tournament director of the Maine Golf Association from 1946 to 1980. Davis was inducted into the Maine Baseball Hall of Fame in 1970 and the Maine Sports Hall of Fame in 1979. He retired from sportswriting in 1971 after receiving the Sportswriter of the Year award in 1961, 1964 and 1967. Davis was an athlete himself, signing with baseball's Pacific Coast League in 1928. He organized and coached the Portland football Sagamores, who won the semi-pro New England title in 1935, 1937 and 1938.

When baseball fans talk about the coaches of the ‘60's and 70's, they always cite Gene Davis of the South Portland Red Riots as a real classy act. Gene Davis was a teacher-coach of great integrity and exemplary sportsmanship--he produced men as well as ballplayers. He always recognized that preparation for life was more important that preparation for athletics. Gene was a four-sport athlete at Mattanawcook Academy in Lincoln for three years. He lettered in football, basketball, baseball and track in 1941-42. In the 1943 State Class B Track Meet, he placed third in the 440 to help Mattanawcook to its only State Title. His speed he put to use on the diamond with the semi-pro Lincoln Blue Jays in 1943, to May 1946, Gene answered roll-calls for Uncle Sam's Navy during World War Il. Upon his discharge, he returned to baseball as an outfielder with the Lincoln Boys Club and to the classrooms of Hampden Academy where he graduated in 1947. From 1947 to 1952, Gene pastimed with the Hampden VFW in the Waldo County League. A teaching-coaching career beckoned and Davis tutored baseball at Hermon High School from 1953 to 1958, winning the Central Maine League title in 1956. In 1959, he moved to South Portland to become a baseball and football aide and, in 1965, he was appointed head baseball coach, a job he held until 1973. Gene's Red Riots were always a contending force and his 1968 were repeat titlests and, in 1970 and 1972, the Deering Rams of Freddy Harlow (HOF) took tie-breaking games to deny Davis two more pennants. One of Gene's products was future Major Leaguer and Hall of Famer, Jim Beattie. Some of Gene's other boys were All-Telly Leaguers Dick Wong, Bob Lapp, Bobby Seymour, Bob Curry, "Chop" Ballard, batting champ Bruce Charles, Steve Brown and Dale Doughty--mention only a few of the fine performers he directed. From 1967 to 1972, Gene teamed with Leroy Rand, Cape Elizabeth assistant, in handling the Stewart P. Morrill Post American Legion team. Leroy labels these the happiest of his countless summer seasons as the very talented Caper-Riot combines won State Titles in 67 and ‘68, and always were in the thick of Togus tourney battling. "Gene was an excellent third-base coach, and | always regarded us as a coaching team. He was enthusiastic, optimistic, and a great role model. It was a joy to work with him--seasons I'll always cherish. Following his coaching days, Gene umpired for three years and was a dedicated "man in blue" respected by players and fellow umps. Gene has been married to the former Virginia (Ginny) Bridges for 41 years--and Ginny was a wonderful "Mother" for all Gene's baseball boys. Their marriage was blessed with a charming daughter, Sandy. Welcome to the Hall, Coach! You have always been a Hall of Famer In every respect.

Described as one of the leading players of his time, Frank Davis began his baseball career in the late 1950’s in Medway, Maine. Frank grew up learning the game of baseball in a cow pasture that his father had converted into a baseball field, and early on, it was evident that Frank was going to be a talented player. As a freshman at Schenck High School in East Millinocket, Frank led the team to the league championship, hitting an impressive .428. Frank played baseball whenever and wherever he could find a game. In the summer of his junior year of high school, Frank played three times a week for the local Babe Ruth team, played for the Lincoln American Legion team on Saturdays, and traveled to Eastport on Sundays to play for the Eastport Lobsters. In his last year of high school, Frank played for his hometown team, the East Millinocket Ruffians. Upon graduation from Schenck High School in 1968, Frank declined a baseball scholarship from the University of Connecticut and opted to stay in Maine and play for Coach Jack Butterfield at the University of Maine. “Frank would do anything asked of him to win,” says Dennis Libbey, a friend and teammate of Frank at the University of Maine. “His name was Pig Pen, Jack Butterfield named him that because his uniforms was always dirty. He dove for everything and slid every base.” As a freshman at Maine, Frank went undefeated as a pitcher for the freshmen team, ending the year with three wins. But even more impressive, he played eight different positions in the field during his collegiate career. In his sophomore year at Maine, Frank made the varsity team as a relief pitcher and utility player. In his junior year at Maine, Frank made the varsity team as a relief pitcher ending the season with a .292 batting average. That summer, he stayed in Orono and played third base for the Bangor Comrades, leading the team to the State Championship on 8 for 16 hitting, earning him MVP honors. As a co captain for the Black Bears his senior year, Frank hit .296 and was named an All-Yankee Conference Honorable Mention selection at third base. Looking back on his playing days at Maine, Frank’s memories are playing with one of the best fielding percentage infields in college baseball at the time . . . with Alan Livingston at second base, Dennis Libbey at shortstop and Frank at third base. Frank continued his playing career after college, playing for South Portland in the Twilight League, leading the league in hitting. He was named league MVP and an All-Star, capping off a fine performance in the All-Star game with a grand slam home run. His team won two straight state semipro league championships. One of his fondest memories of playing in the Twilight League, however, was traveling up from Cape Cod (where he was attending the Ted Williams Baseball Camp) to South Portland to catch Bert Roberge and Steve Conley in a double header. Ironically, catcher was the only position Frank had never played in his career. That winter, Frank began his teaching and coaching career Woodland High School, where his baseball team lost in the Eastern Maine Finals. In 1973, an opportunity to return to his roots was presented, and Frank accepted a teaching position in East Millinocket. Still passionate about the game, Frank would travel 3 and a half hours to Cutler to play for the Cutler Cardinals in the Quoddy League. In the championship game, Frank pitched the Cardinals to a 3 to 1 win over the a talented Peter Dana Point Indian team, knocking in the winning runs with a triple. In 1974, Frank moved to Fairfield, where he would coach and teach for the next twenty years. Still an active player, he played for Yarmouth in the Twilight League. A bad cases of mononucleosis ended his playing career in 1975. With the end of his playing career, however, came the beginning of a great coaching career. Throughout the years, Frank has coached baseball, softball, basketball, cross county and every sport in between, at all levels, both boys and girls, and has had a tremendous influence on many young lives. He spearheaded the intramural volleyball program while in Fairfield, and had as many as 200 participants on twenty teams playing volleyball five days a week. Another opportunity to go back to his roots led Frank back to Medway, where he began teaching at Medway Middle School. Frank retired from teaching four years ago, but he is just as busy as ever. Frank still spends his days outside on the field, not as a baseball player but as a master gardener. He and his wife, Ann, spend their days tending to their 110 acre farm just outside of Medway. Longtime friend Dennis Libbey said, “More than a baseball player, Frank was an outstanding person - teacher, coach, son, husband.” Frank Davis, with his passion and enthusiasm for the game, has undoubtedly left his mark on Maine baseball.

For the past thirty years, Jack Dawson has been well-known as a football coach, baseball referee, camp director, guidance counselor and, most recently, as a Portland City Councilor. All of these roles have obscured the accomplishments of Dawson, the baseball person. As a youngster, he preferred to catch, but under the tutelage of the legendary Frank Archer, he switched to pitcher and infielder to play for the Paul Mallia American Legion team in 1949 and 1950. At Cheverus H.S. Dawson, who also ran track and played football, played shortstop for the 1951 and 1952 teams. But it was in summer ball that Jack really made his mark. Dedication and versatility made him a welcome addition to anybody's roster. He was always ready to play. In 1951, the Mallia Post now out of the baseball business, Dawson joined his Deering neighbors on the Ralph Caldwell Post and played third base. in 1952 he enjoyed a fine season with the Deering Hoboes and was selected to the Twilight League All-Stars with teammates, including Bill Ladd, Herbie Swift, Frank Archer, Yudy Elowitch, and others who grace the Maine baseball HOF. From 1953 to 1956, Jack played with the Boston College Eagles, lettering in ‘56 as a third-baseman-outfielder. During the summers, he always returned to the Twilight League: 1953 and 1954, Portland Copper; 1955, Blue Rock; 1956-57, Forest City Motors, where he added an occasional catching chore to his portfolio. it was playing with the Motormen that he and the late Pete Harnois had a memorable outfield collision that sent the two fearless competitors to the hospital. in 1956, he was offered a White Sox tryout at Seals Stadium in San Francisco, but a 14-day odyssey across the country left him too late for the tryout but on time to start a teaching-coaching career in California. Another opportunity presented itself in 1957 in the form of a tryout with the Class C Salinas (Calif.) Blue Jays, but it was time to start graduate school at B.C. In 1958, Jack returned to Cheverus to assist his former mentor, Bill Curran, with football and to assume the baseball reins. Blessed with some excellent young ball players who continued to blossom under his sturdy leadership - Cheverus in 1959 won its first Telegram League title since 1936. The 1960 club, captained by Phil Conley and featuring Paul Sullivan and Dick Joyce, both future pros and HoFer’s, repeated. Jack then took over the head football job and had to yield the baseball coaching to Hank Stillman, and the 1961 club became the only undefeated Telly League team. Ana those were Cheverus last title teams. When Cheverus gave up football, Jack left for Westbrook and has been there since. But he never really left baseball because he has instructed many youngsters at his popular Sports Camp, occasionally umpired in youth programs and is the dean of pitchers in the local Over-30 League. Jack is married to the former Eileen Cavallier and is the father of 4 daughters and son James, a promising all-round 8th grade athlete.

In 1907 Harry Delano pitched and won a doubleheader for West Paris to capture the annual Oxford fair tournament earning $5 in the process. Forty three years later, on the same field in an old-timer’s game, he ended his illustrious pitching career. He received some hand shakes for his final effort, but no pay. In the intervening years, Oxford’s Delano pitched over 1,200 games and his arm was still in shape at the end, his legs had gone. Opponents were bunting him to death. Tall and wiry, Delano supposedly could eat a ton without gaining a pound. His eating prowess did get him into a bit of trouble in his only major league tryout with the Chicago White Sox in 1910. He ate a small steak, two eggs, home fries, loads of toast and four glasses of milk at a Chicago restaurant. When the waiter brought the bill to the rawboned youth he nearly hit the ceiling. Delano, a homebody, didn’t last long in Chicago, but was sent to the minors at Dubuque for three years. A mastoid operation before Dubuque and his indifference to the pro baseball way of life once there spelled the end for Delano. He never tried out for the majors again. Instead he was a prime mover in starting his own league—the Pine Tree League.